The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1887-11-08
W. c. T. q.
Third Annual Report.

of these Islands began its existence.
The record of the year Just completed
differs but little from that of the years
preceding. The usual monthly meet
ings have been held, with an average
attendance of twenty-five, from a MEM
bership of seventy-five.
The first half-hour of our meetings
is devoted to singing, Scripture read
ing, prayer and speaking, all bearing
upon our special work. Reports OF
officers and superintendent of the
various departments of work, and
other business follow in their order.
We are in correspondence with sew
eral ladies of w. c. T. L. fame in the
United States and with Mrs. Mary G.
Leavitt, our 'round-the-world mission
airy. These letters add greatly TO the
interest of our meetings.
Each department of work is inter-
esting in itself, and is presided over by
an efficient and earnest woman. In
this quiet and systematic way we are
doing what we can to create and in
tensify temperance sentiments.
Our juvenile society numbers about
folty in attendance at the monthly
meetings. The ladies of the Union
continue to furnish refreshments and
the little folks are entertained by songs
and games, instructive talks, and les
sons from the Temperance Catechism.
1t is on the principle that San ounce of
prevention is better than a pound of
curen that we begin with the children;
teaching them the nature and effects
of alcoholic drinks. Many of these
children come from homes in which
they get very little if any such instruc-
ton; others are from our best fami-
lies and give tone and character 10 the
society.
A great amount of temperance liter
allure has been distributed among
sailors, at the hospital, prison and
other places. Among sailors alone
$50 pages have been circulated by our
superintendent Of that department,
besides 656 newspapers and 20 maya
zines.
Great credit is due Miss Johnson for
her faithful discharge of duty in her
department. The reading rooms of
been furnished with "The Union
Signal,n q temperance weekly. The
temperance work carried on so faith
fully by Miss Green has been in many
ways aided by the Union.
The Health Primer has been trans
lated and published in the Hawaiian
language for the native schools, from
which the effects of alcohol upon the
body and mind are taught. A temper
ance song book entitled Little Drops
of Water'' has been published in
native, and several thousand tracts
are in circulation. A magic lantern
has been furnished and illustrative
pictures which carry conviction to the
mind of the native Hawaiian much
more forcibly than words.
We have a branch society in Hilo
which is doing effective work. This
is made up of foreign and native ladies.
Mrs. T. /. Lyman is the President
and Mrs L. L. Austin the Secretary.
Mrs. Lyman labOrs under difficult
ties which would be TO many insur-
mountable. But she is, heart and
soul, devoted to this grand work of
temperance reform, and with her earn
est helpers is widening the stream of
public sentiment which is constantly
gaining in proportions.
One of the most delightful features
of the temperance work in Honolulu
the past year was the visit of Mr.. R.
T. Booth. His imprisoned eloquence
was an inspiration to all temperance
people and resulted in reclaiming some
from the drink habit, and establish
ing many in total abstinence. During
his stay 3l3 foreigners and 395 natives
signed the pledge. This was esti-
mated to be twO-thirds of the number
who took the blue ribbon; the others
having taken the pledge ut some pre-
yious time. We DO not expect that
all Will stand firm in their good reso-
buttons. So long as the liquor saloon
stands ut every corner, to tempt men,
temperance reformers will fight at
great odds.
While the Government licenses men
to deal out the draught that crazes the
brain and robs men of reason AID will
power, so long will men fall. The
Blue Ribbon League was organized
under the direction Of Mr.. Booth, and
has kept up its meetings with a good
attendance. Rev. Mr.. Gowen, the
President, is an enthusiastic temper
ance man, and infused his spirit into
the organization; and local talent is
never wanting to make the Blue Rib
bon entertainments exceedingly inter-
esting.
Mrs. Leavitt is now in India. Since
leaving Honolulu, three years ago, she
has been actively engaged in lecturing
and organizing w. c. T. Unions in
Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan
and India.
A petition is being prepared, in the
vernacular of every country, to be pre-
scented to its Government, asking for
laws protecting its people from the
curse OF alcohol. This petition will
have the signature of men and women
who feel the Importance of such gov
ernmental measures. and their name is
legion. And thus the leaven is work
ing, until the nations of the earth shall
be free from this foul blot-blacker
than the curse of slavery that once
stained our own loved America.
We, as a society, are only small
outpost compared to the grand army
bearing the standard of temperance.
The Womau's Christian Temperance
Union alone number more than 200, 00O. |
in the United States. Standing shout |
der to shoulder with these are the Blue |
Ribbon League and other kindred or